10-27-1986 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Big Island Veterans Camp - 2 ACTIC14S CREATING A PARK ON BIG ISLAND Earl, � '7J's Lake :•)irnatonka Conservation District and Greater Minnetonka Council express a desire to have Big Island preserved as a park. As a result Hennepin County Park Reserve District and Orono designate the Island as a park and HCPRO begins acquisition. May 1972 Orono declares the highest and best use of Big Island to be as a parT anZ endorses HCPRD to acquire and manage it. June 1972 HCPRD supports preservation of Big Island as a park. August 1974 Orono adapts a Comprehensive Plan calling for "every effort to be made to combine private and federal lands on the Island with HCPRD land to include the Island in the park and recreation system available in Orono." October 1974 HCPRD buys a three acre parcel. June 1977 HCPRD accepts a 54 acre donation from the Metropolitan Parks oun�dation (The Arthur Allen Wildlife Sanctuary) made possible by the Greater Lake Minnetonka Council. January 1978 HCPRD Board determines to seek conveyance of Big Island Veterans Camp from the Legislature (in cooperation with Orono and the Metro Council). March 1978 HCPRD Board approves Big Island Park boundaries located entirely onnthe east island. July 1962 Lake Minnetonka Task Force formed and subsequently recommends the acquisition of the Veterans Camp for park purposes (in t-lay of 1983). May 1983 Legislature designates all public land on Big Island as a regional park. CURRENT CONDITION OF THE CAMP The camp is badly deteriorated and is now closed because it fails to meet health and building codes. Jeff Olson, Assistant Commissioner of Veterans Affairs estimates tat it will cost from $300-500,000 to minimally meet code requirements. CA14P USE The management of the camp has not filed a report on use for the past two years, however, the Commissioner of Veterans Affairs estimates the use at less than 100 campers (veterans and families). Others have estimated use at 140. This is down from a reported 225, 4-5 years ago. It is estimated that only one half of the campers meet the statutory definition of those eligible to use the camp. The management has r-portedly also failed to file reports with the Department of Revenue and others.